The MMA thread
- Thread starter Fortitude
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I put my money on DC.
I would be very surprised if DC wins.
The odds were too good, specially for a guy who is undefeated HW and has only lost to the GOAT.
DC gonna be the smartest fighter and best wrestler Stipe has ever fought. I definitely not gonna be surprised if DC wins. (I was more surprised with DC making the miracle on ice (Coaches challenge in the last TUF episode))
Obviously not gonna be surprised if Stipe wins either. He has the power advantage and as Dan Hardy says, not gonna be so easy for DC to get into a clinch. Those close range punches by Stipe are vicious.
edit. Stipe is a funny as feck
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Hopefully this time Tony and Khabib will make it to the octagon.
Love Ortega and Max. Not sure who I want to win
I'm favoring DC over Stipe. I don't think Stipe is really all that good. He's good enough, and well rounded, but he's fighting in a HW era that might be the worst it's ever been. The top guys, are the same guys from 10 years ago by and large, hell, 15 years ago. Is he beating them? Uh, there'd be a problem if he wasn't beating them. Therein lies the problem. I look at Stipe, and I just see someone who is good enough to beat old guys 5-7 years past their best, at best, or some super one dimensional brawler.
The Ngannou fight was atrocious. Stipe won, but he won by surviving. Ngannou was so gassed that Stipe should have been able to put him to sleep, but, Stipe was almost AS exhausted, and he basically just draped himself over Ngannou once Ngannou punched himself out in the first round. Neither guy looked good in that fight, they both looked terrible. It was amateur hour.
DC is a legit beast. He's probably one of the 4 or 5 best to ever do it. He has cardio for days. He's a wrestling beast. He has good hands. The only thing he is lacking versus Stipe, is youth, and height. DC will probably come in around the same size weight wise as Stipe. The only question in my mind for this fight, is this, when is DC going to start showing his age, because to me, that's the only thing that makes me think Stipe might have a chance. This isn't like Ngannou where it was, will Ngannou knock him to the moon in the first round, or will Stipe survive the onslaught and impose his will on a dude who gassed himself out? There is no easy out here for Stipe. DC is a better wrestler. Pushes a higher tempo. Has better cardio. Has faster hands. Has better hands. He's just shorter/smaller, but not that much smaller, and he's a fair bit older.
Age could catch up to DC, and that's certainly a possibility, but other than father time, I don't really see how Stipe wins this short of DC looking old, or Stipe with a punchers chance.
The Ngannou fight was atrocious. Stipe won, but he won by surviving. Ngannou was so gassed that Stipe should have been able to put him to sleep, but, Stipe was almost AS exhausted, and he basically just draped himself over Ngannou once Ngannou punched himself out in the first round. Neither guy looked good in that fight, they both looked terrible. It was amateur hour.
DC is a legit beast. He's probably one of the 4 or 5 best to ever do it. He has cardio for days. He's a wrestling beast. He has good hands. The only thing he is lacking versus Stipe, is youth, and height. DC will probably come in around the same size weight wise as Stipe. The only question in my mind for this fight, is this, when is DC going to start showing his age, because to me, that's the only thing that makes me think Stipe might have a chance. This isn't like Ngannou where it was, will Ngannou knock him to the moon in the first round, or will Stipe survive the onslaught and impose his will on a dude who gassed himself out? There is no easy out here for Stipe. DC is a better wrestler. Pushes a higher tempo. Has better cardio. Has faster hands. Has better hands. He's just shorter/smaller, but not that much smaller, and he's a fair bit older.
Age could catch up to DC, and that's certainly a possibility, but other than father time, I don't really see how Stipe wins this short of DC looking old, or Stipe with a punchers chance.
The odds were too good, specially for a guy who is undefeated HW and has only lost to the GOAT.
DC gonna be the smartest fighter and best wrestler Stipe has ever fought. I definitely not gonna be surprised if DC wins. (I was more surprised with DC making the miracle on ice (Coaches challenge in the last TUF episode))
Obviously not gonna be surprised if Stipe wins either. He has the power advantage and as Dan Hardy says, not gonna be so easy for DC to get into a clinch. Those close range punches by Stipe are vicious.
edit. Stipe is a funny as feck
Always baffled the UFC are not marketing the shit out of stipe. Record breaking heavyweight champion, funny guy, family man, still works as a fireman? Should be a promoters dream.
I mean they've tried to be fair to them. I've seen them put loads of videos out of him recently (especially since he broke the record), he just coached TUF, I think he's in a few adverts (I swear I saw him in a beer one online the other day) I just don't think he's that interested in doing it so they're kind of limited.
A positive image doesn't really generate the sort of drama that draws people in. GSP being a one offf exception and in his case its about his fighting skills and quirky accent. The rest of them all have used confrontation and hype to do it.
Well here's my picks for the weekend...hopefully no last minute injuries and people make weight! (hardly likely but lets see)
Main Card
Stipe Miocic
Daniel Cormier
Think this will be close and I think Stipe will probably win, but I'm putting my money on DC because I prefer him as a fighter. Going to be a war either way and would still be happy enough with Stipe winning, but more so DC.
Max Holloway
Brian Ortega
Ortega looked great against an ageing (aged?) Edgar and Holloway looked great against a past-it Aldo. Tough fight for both but think Holloway has a champions mindset and will find a way to win.
Francis Ngannou
Derrick Lewis
Think Lewis is too slow compete with Ngannou but if he weathers the storm he has the better gas-tank. He's getting KO'd though.
Michael Chiesa
Anthony Pettis
Going with Chiesa. Pettis hasn't had a decent win in about 5 years now.
Gökhan Saki
Khalil Rountree
Haven't seen a lot / can't remember, but going for the better striker of the two.
Prelims
Uriah Hall
Paulo Costa
The man is a monster.
Paul Felder
Mike Perry
Short notice fight but Felder is a bad man and Perry likes to get punched in the face, a lot.
Raphael Assuncao
Rob Font
Again haven't seen a lot / can't remember, but going for experience.
Main Card
Stipe Miocic
Daniel Cormier
Think this will be close and I think Stipe will probably win, but I'm putting my money on DC because I prefer him as a fighter. Going to be a war either way and would still be happy enough with Stipe winning, but more so DC.
Max Holloway
Brian Ortega
Ortega looked great against an ageing (aged?) Edgar and Holloway looked great against a past-it Aldo. Tough fight for both but think Holloway has a champions mindset and will find a way to win.
Francis Ngannou
Derrick Lewis
Think Lewis is too slow compete with Ngannou but if he weathers the storm he has the better gas-tank. He's getting KO'd though.
Michael Chiesa
Anthony Pettis
Going with Chiesa. Pettis hasn't had a decent win in about 5 years now.
Gökhan Saki
Khalil Rountree
Haven't seen a lot / can't remember, but going for the better striker of the two.
Prelims
Uriah Hall
Paulo Costa
The man is a monster.
Paul Felder
Mike Perry
Short notice fight but Felder is a bad man and Perry likes to get punched in the face, a lot.
Raphael Assuncao
Rob Font
Again haven't seen a lot / can't remember, but going for experience.
Stipe vs. DC
Holloway vs. Ortega
Ngannou vs. Lewis
Chiesa vs. Pettis
Saki vs. Rountree
Hall vs. Costa
Felder vs. Perry
Assuncao vs. Font
Holloway vs. Ortega
Ngannou vs. Lewis
Chiesa vs. Pettis
Saki vs. Rountree
Hall vs. Costa
Felder vs. Perry
Assuncao vs. Font
Not sure how DC can pull this off. He's 39 and will be fighting at a much heavier weight than his usual LHW weight. Stipe is an intelligent fighter who will have a game plan coming in so it will be a tough haul for DC.
Yeah my head says Stipe but I want DC to do it!
DC is going to bring his A game to the table and that's a lot for anyone to deal with, HW or not.
Not like he hasn't fought at HW before, and no weight cut to contend with as well. I'm sure that's a plus for him even if he is carrying more weight than he usually would be.
His only hope would be to take Stipe down and sit on him for a few rounds. If it stays standing up then Stipe's striking will be too much for DC imo.
Can't fecking wait for Saturday. World Cup then this card. 
Anyway predictions time...
Stipe Miocic vs Daniel Cormier
Max Holloway vs Brian Ortega
Francis Ngannou vs Derrick Lewis
Michael Chiesa vs Anthony Pettis
Gökhan Saki vs Khalil Rountree Jr
Anyway predictions time...Stipe Miocic vs Daniel Cormier
Max Holloway vs Brian Ortega
Francis Ngannou vs Derrick Lewis
Michael Chiesa vs Anthony Pettis
Gökhan Saki vs Khalil Rountree Jr
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Can't fecking wait for Saturday. World Cup then this card.
Stipe Miocic (c) vs Daniel Cormier
Max Holloway vs Brian Ortega
Francis Ngannou vs Derrick Lewis
Michael Chiesa vs Anthony Pettis
Gökhan Saki vs Khalil Rountree Jr
Agreed on Stipe and Ngannou
I'm extremely conflicted about Holloway/Ortega . Ortega is just fighting too well at the moment to see him losing.
Bad news... Max, out again.
Predictable. Bisping seemed to notice something wasn't right.
Derrick Lewis' back seems to be giving him issues in the latest embedded vid. He's had to withdraw before because of back problems so that's another fight to keep an eye on.
Fuuuuuuck
He needs to move up. He cuts from something huge for that weight class and clearly can’t do it anymore. I like the guy a lot but it needs addressing this stuff urgently. It’s juat going to keep ruining cards.
EDIT - Apparently nothing to do with weight cut which is even more worrying
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Jesus Christ
From Team Holloway....
“Max’s team and UFC staff noticed Max was not normal since late last week. This became obvious to many watching his interviews and public appearances the past few days.
“He was showing concussion-like symptoms before he even started his weight cut and was rushed to the ER on Monday where they admitted him overnight. Initial scans seemed okay, and he was released Tuesday afternoon, but symptoms still continued.
“Max fought with his team to continue with the fight. He showed some improvement over the next day but was still showing obvious symptoms. After open workouts, he crashed and was very hard to wake up. When he did, he had flashing vision and slurred speech.
“He is now back in the ER for further tests.”
From Team Holloway....
“Max’s team and UFC staff noticed Max was not normal since late last week. This became obvious to many watching his interviews and public appearances the past few days.
“He was showing concussion-like symptoms before he even started his weight cut and was rushed to the ER on Monday where they admitted him overnight. Initial scans seemed okay, and he was released Tuesday afternoon, but symptoms still continued.
“Max fought with his team to continue with the fight. He showed some improvement over the next day but was still showing obvious symptoms. After open workouts, he crashed and was very hard to wake up. When he did, he had flashing vision and slurred speech.
“He is now back in the ER for further tests.”
Oh noJesus Christ
From Team Holloway....
“Max’s team and UFC staff noticed Max was not normal since late last week. This became obvious to many watching his interviews and public appearances the past few days.
“He was showing concussion-like symptoms before he even started his weight cut and was rushed to the ER on Monday where they admitted him overnight. Initial scans seemed okay, and he was released Tuesday afternoon, but symptoms still continued.
“Max fought with his team to continue with the fight. He showed some improvement over the next day but was still showing obvious symptoms. After open workouts, he crashed and was very hard to wake up. When he did, he had flashing vision and slurred speech.
“He is now back in the ER for further tests.”
FFS Max. Get well lad.
Frankie Edgar is up for replacing Max!
Just knew someone was going to drop out. Gutted, hope it’s nothing too serious but it doesn’t sound good.
Hoping Zabit steps up.
Jesus Christ
From Team Holloway....
“Max’s team and UFC staff noticed Max was not normal since late last week. This became obvious to many watching his interviews and public appearances the past few days.
“He was showing concussion-like symptoms before he even started his weight cut and was rushed to the ER on Monday where they admitted him overnight. Initial scans seemed okay, and he was released Tuesday afternoon, but symptoms still continued.
“Max fought with his team to continue with the fight. He showed some improvement over the next day but was still showing obvious symptoms. After open workouts, he crashed and was very hard to wake up. When he did, he had flashing vision and slurred speech.
“He is now back in the ER for further tests.”
He's sounded punch drunk for a while.
Jesus Christ
From Team Holloway....
“Max’s team and UFC staff noticed Max was not normal since late last week. This became obvious to many watching his interviews and public appearances the past few days.
“He was showing concussion-like symptoms before he even started his weight cut and was rushed to the ER on Monday where they admitted him overnight. Initial scans seemed okay, and he was released Tuesday afternoon, but symptoms still continued.
“Max fought with his team to continue with the fight. He showed some improvement over the next day but was still showing obvious symptoms. After open workouts, he crashed and was very hard to wake up. When he did, he had flashing vision and slurred speech.
“He is now back in the ER for further tests.”
Doesn't sound good at all.
Any ideas what they will do with the card?
I always value a source from outside the team with stories like this.
When Max pulls out it always seems to be against the wishes of the fighter who tried his best etc etc.
Just seems like there's a bit of spin attached but I hope he's OK, it would be a crying shame if a man of his talents never fulfilled his potential.
When Max pulls out it always seems to be against the wishes of the fighter who tried his best etc etc.
Just seems like there's a bit of spin attached but I hope he's OK, it would be a crying shame if a man of his talents never fulfilled his potential.
they say it's not re weight cut, but I feel this must play some role in it, either that or he's just injury prone or very unlucky. That's 2 fights in 4 months he's pulled out of. He didn't fight Edgar due to an injury back in March. I mean you could say 3 fights if you include Khabib, but that wasn't his fight anyway, but technically he did agree to it.It gets to the point where you feel with his size and build that he needs to move up. Pulling out of 2, possibly 3 fights in 4 months isn't good for anyone.
Ortega/Holloway was Khabib/Ferguson levels of hype for me. Can't believe this has happened ffs.
It seems like he's concussed or got some kind of brain trauma. It makes sense hes been in some very physical fights and is meant to spar quite hard. It'll be a shame if his career is cut short but it might be best ofr his long term health.
He's looked out of it in a load of videos including the Bisping 1 which has been posted.